Contact

2013

Alexandre Arrechea: No Limits

May 14, 2013 · by Alexandre Arrechea

SHARE

Phillips GalleryNew York, USA8 – 13 April 2013

A selling exhibition of watercolors and sculpture inspired by the Park Avenue Malls project

The project is an extension of Alexandre Arrechea: No Limits, the artist’s ambitious installation of 18-foot architectural sculptures currently on view through 1 June on the Park Avenue Malls.Through the use of landmark buildings Arrechea calls attention to the relationship between man-made environmental interventions and the public. The No Limits series of contorted skyscraper sculptures arrest the viewer with distorted verticality, raising questions about the role of architecture in the manipulation of power and control. The artist destabilizes perception through elasticity and a sense of mobility not typically associated with these structures. The iconic buildings represented in the series include: the Chrysler Building, Citicorp Center, Empire State Building, Flatiron building, Helmsley Building, MetLife Building, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, Seagram Building, Sherry Netherland, and US Courthouse.

Arrechea’s watercolors serve as both a documentary and an extension of the project. Rendered in nostalgic sepia and an illustrator’s brushstroke, the artist gives us intimate glimpses into his studio practice. In Coronado el Helmsley Building, 2012, we see the Helmsley Building monumental sculpture as it is graced with the finishing touches in the workshop. Trabajando en los detalles, 2012, pays homage the beauty of the journey through unique snapshots of the construction process. Among the large-format watercolors we see sweeping views of the finished sculptures along Park Avenue, communicating their revolutionizing effect on the urban landscape.

“Arrechea’s unique vision surveys our everyday landscape and culture, which is in line with Phillips’ s approach to contemporary art. We are delighted to be part of this bold, far-reaching project.” Zach Miner, Head of Evening Sale, Phillips.